Seropositivity, homosexuality and identity politics in Brazil

This paper focuses on the emergence of HIV seropositivity as a new identity, closely linked to male homosexuality, in Brazilian culture. Based on the author's personal experience as an AIDS activist, together with his ongoing research on homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, the article examines two dist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Culture, health & sexuality health & sexuality, 1999-10, Vol.1 (4), p.329-346
Main Author: Terto, Veriano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Activism
AIDS
AIDS Serodiagnosis
Americas
Behavior
Brazil
Brazilian culture
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Cultural Identity
Developing Countries
Diagnosis
Disease
Epidemics
Gender identity
Group Identity
HIV
HIV Infections
Homosexuality
Identity
Latin America
Male homosexuality
Political identity
Politics
Population
Sexual Behavior
Social Action
Social Identity
Solidarity
South America
Virus Diseases
Viruses
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Summary:This paper focuses on the emergence of HIV seropositivity as a new identity, closely linked to male homosexuality, in Brazilian culture. Based on the author's personal experience as an AIDS activist, together with his ongoing research on homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, the article examines two distinct conceptions of seropositive identities that have emerged in the Brazilian HIV/AIDS movement. The first of these conceptions suggests that all people whose lives have been touched by HIV and AIDS can work together, based on principles of solidarity, in seeking to respond to the epidemic-whether or not they are themselves directly infected with HIV. The second, more specific conception, suggests that those infected by HIV share a number a range of common experiences that distinguish them from others, while at the same time recognizing the specificity of those who are homosexual men as opposed to heterosexual women or injecting drug users. The paper seeks to explore the ways in which these differing conceptions have taken shape as the basis for social action and activism around AIDS-related issues such as prevention, treatment and care.
ISSN:1369-1058
1464-5351
DOI:10.1080/136910599300923